10 Sports Stars BASA has given the Platform to Shine!

THERE is just a week to go before the 10th Lebara British Asian Sports Awards take place and excitement is growing as to who will be the big winners on the night.

But it will be an extra special night for BASA, which has been championing the Asian community's sporting contribution for the last decade.

As the shortlisted nominees continue to campaign for votes and secure a win on the night, BASA’s Zohaib Rashid has a quick look back at some of the nominees and winners from the past 10 years who have been recognised for their talent and have gone on to blaze a trail.

AMIR KHAN

THE WBA world champion is probably the most celebrated sportsman, having won four BASA awards. He was first discovered by BASA before he went to the Olympic Games in Athens and has gone from strength to strength.

Since winning a silver medal at the Athens Games, Khan turned professional and won his first 18 fights before being knocked out by unknown Colombian Breidis Prescott in September 2008.

Within a year, Khan dusted himself off and secured wins over Oisin Fagan and Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera before defeating Andreas Kotelnik in July 2009 to be crowned world champion.

King Khan has since conquered America, winning his fights against Paulie Malignaggi and Marcos Maidana in New York and Las Vegas respectively.

ISA GUHA

NASSER HUSSAIN might be the only Asian to captain the England cricket team but the most successful British Asian player is Guha.

The 25-year-old, who was crowned Sports Personality of the Year at last year’s BASA awards, is the only player from the Asian community who can boast winning the Ashes against Australia three times as well as helping England win the 50-over world cup and World Twenty20 in 2009.

Guha is another star who was given limelight by BASA, having made her debut for the England team in an ODI against Scotland in 2001 aged just 16 before making her entrance in the Test arena a year later.

Guha was also ranked the best bowler in the world by the ICC Women's ODI rankings in 2008.

RAJIV OUSEPH

The badminton star is one of the favourites to win a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics in London and is currently one of the top players in Britain.

Ouseph, who is a BASA brand ambassador like Amir Khan and Isa Guha, had a brilliant 12 months which saw him win the prestigious US Open as well as a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October.

And only this month, the 24-year-old won his fourth successive title at the English National Badminton Championship in Manchester.

JAWAID KHALIQ

Before Amir Khan, Britain was cheering on another Asian boxer who became world champion, in the form of Nottingham-born Khaliq.

The man known as "Too Sleek", won the Commonwealth welterweight title in November 2000 before getting a chance to fight for the IBO world welterweight belt in 2001.

Khaliq overcame Willy Wise in Nottingham to become world champion. He went on to defend the title seven times before hanging up his gloves as an unbeaten champion.

Khaliq was also nominated twice by BASA, winning the Sports Personality of the Year award in the 2003 edition.

HARRY DHAMI

It wasn't just Jawaid Khaliq who was paving the way for Asian boxers in the early part of the 21st century.

Harry Dhami was also making waves after becoming the first Asian to win a British boxing title.

Dhami won the British welterweight title by beating Derek Roche in March 2000 and was rewarded for his great achievement by being nominated for the Sports Personality of the Year award at the first edition of BASA.

KIRAN MATHARU

The British Asian Sports Awards (BASA) has done a good job at highlighting individuals who have become the pioneers in the community.

Kiran Matharu is another star who achieved this status, becoming the first British Asian female and youngest professional golfer to play on the European Tour in 2007.

Matharu was just 16-year-old when she made her mark and got her first BASA nomination, in the Junior Sports Personality of the Year female category.

She then went to win the award for two years running (2005 and 2006) and is still hitting the greens in anger on the Tour today.

SAIMA HUSSAIN

The best thing about BASA has been the recognition and celebration of female participation in sport.

And one woman who has definitely been an inspiration to most is Saima Hussain, who became the first Asian female to represent Great Britain in Rugby.

She was also the first Asian Muslim to play Rugby League for Yorkshire.

Hussain, who worked hard on and off the field, was awarded the Most Up & Coming Sports Personality of the Year in the 2005 BASA awards.

And she continues to work in the local community in Yorkshire today, inspiring a new generation.

IKRAM BUTT

Another individual who achieved a first in the Asian community and one which is still to be topped! Ikram Butt made history as the first British Asian Muslim to play Rugby League for England, taking on Wales in 1995.

He then went on to become the founder of the ground-breaking British Asian Rugby Association (BARA).

The organisation has been in the forefront of bridging a gap between the Asian community and mainstream rugby and has offered support to upcoming rugby players.

Only last year, Jesse Mander and Tajiv ‘Tosh’ Masson were nominated at last year’s BASA and both credited BARA and Butt for being an inspiration to them.

Butt has been nominated at BASA on a number of occasions and continues to work tirelessly every day to help the Asian sporting community.

SUNNY HIRA

Not many can boast being three-time world champion but for Sunny Hira, it is more than a boast.

The Hitman from Handsworth has dedicated much of his life to the world of kickboxing and has been more than successful.

Hira’s achievements in the ring have not been overlooked by BASA, who gave him the honour of Most Up and Coming Sports Personality of the Year at the 2008 edition.

VANISHA PATEL

The idea of a female Asian footballer may be an alien concept for some but not many about Permi Joothi, the first Asian to play professional football in the modern era.

Then there was Aman Dosanj, who played for England U-16. And another player who is following in their footsteps is Vanisha Patel.

The Charlton Athletic Women’s player has been another regular fixture in the BASA nominations, having been shortlisted in the Junior Sports Personality of the Year Female category on three occasions.

She made her first-team debut aged just 16 and is currently a prominent member in the squad.